"Uninvited" by Alanis Morissette (performed by Red Sun Rising)

I heard this song (the original version) the other day while I was giving my son a bath. I had forgotten how much I liked it - it is, in fact, one of my favorite Alanis Morissette songs. Critical reviews all describe the melody as "haunting," one of the key factors as to why I like it so much. "Uninvited" came out after the success of "Jagged Little Pill," her first album that was released worldwide. It was released as a single from the soundtrack for "City of Angels." Regardless of how you feel about the movie and its premise (which we'll get to in a minute), the soundtrack was brilliant and contained some of the most iconic music of the decade. For example, "Iris" - which Taylor Swift introduced very accurately during one of her concerts as "one of the greatest songs of all time" - was also released as a single for the movie. "Uninvited" earned Morissette two Grammy's in 1999 - for Best Rock Song and Best Female Rock Vocal - and it was nominated for a Golden Globe as Best Original Song.

Like anyone would be

I am flattered by your fascination with me

There has been much speculation about this song. Because the tune does have a darkness to it, some have interpreted as being directed towards someone who is stalking the singer. However, this is not the case. In Morissette's own words, she has called this her "fear of love" song. To be pursued by someone you could feel a strong attraction towards but putting up a shield because of the murkiness of your own mind. In interviews, Morissette indicates that she had been going through some things during the writing of this song. She saw a raw snippet of "City of Angels" when she was asked to write something for the soundtrack, and she was inspired by the turbulence and confusion exhibited by Meg Ryan's character. Not being a stranger to romantic turmoil, she describes the hesitance to jump into something uncertain as a natural reaction to being burned. But the knowledge of pain is what makes it all the more blissful. "You don't really know how amazing things are unless you have the contrast of things not having been amazing for a certain amount of time, and I happen to like that theory."

Must be strangely exciting

To watch the stoic squirm

For those not as well versed in Meg Ryan movies as I am, I will recount "City of Angels" for you, because it is a truly romantic and tragic story. Nick Cage plays Seth, an angel who is charged to watch over humans in various ways but mostly to guide the dying to the next life. While watching over one of his humans, he becomes enamored with the efforts of the surgeon, Maggie (Meg Ryan), trying to save the man and her absolute torment when she fails. Seth quickly becomes obsessed with Maggie and makes a choice to become visible to her. They strike up a friendship which eventually turns into mutual attraction, which becomes a source of confusion for Maggie as she is already in a relationship with one of her colleagues. During the course of his duties, he meets a patient who used to be an angel but became human through a process called "falling." Seth begins contemplating the possibility to be with Maggie. In a symbolic act, he falls from a skyscraper and when he awakens after the fall, he is fully human, with all the pain and emotions that go along with it. He seeks out Maggie and when she discovers he has become human for her, they make love. I don't want to spoil the movie but let's just say their ecstasy is short-lived and it ends badly. Although Meg Ryan is still acting today, this movie came out right at the height of her career - once the 90s ended, Ryan was cast less frequently in the romantic comedies that made her famous. Part of it was that she wanted to branch out and do more serious films (like "City of Angels") but, unfortunately, that's just the reality of an actress who ages out of playing the ingenue.

You speak of my love like

You have experienced love like mine before

I chose to feature Red Sun Rising's cover of "Uninvited" simply because I like the singer's voice. This version is true to the original and preserves that chilling quality that was so acclaimed. I found the music video for this version disturbing and I can't exactly put my finger on why. In the video, an older man is looking out his window and he sees a neighbor across the way - a young woman - walking around her apartment naked in the middle of the night. The next day, he buys her a flower arrangement and leaves it at her door. That night, he watches her walking around again - this time, the flowers are on her table. As she stops to smell and enjoy them, a smile crosses the man's face. That's literally all that happens during the video but there is a sinister implication that it escalates after the video ends. The thing is, I know what that girl is thinking as she smells the flowers - we all have this fantasy of the "secret admirer" who turns out to be this perfect man who is everything we want him to be. However, when someone keeps showing up on your running path or seems to be invited to all the same parties you are, the feeling is more akin to being little more than prey. That's why "You" is so dangerous - because Joe Goldberg is that attractive man who wants to meet all your needs....and he also happens to be a murderous psychopath. That being said, the general consensus of women who watched "You" was that they'd happily be stalked by Joe. I even found myself thinking that, despite being very aware of the dangers of getting in a relationship with someone who is sociopathic and narcissistic. But, as the lyrics say, it is flattering to be wanted that much. To be on the receiving end of that much attention. Especially for those of us who love the spotlight. From what I understand of the second season, Joe meets someone who is just as creepily obsessive as he is and they live happily ever after....or do they? ::dramatic music::

I don't think you unworthy

I need a moment to deliberate

I've included both the Red Sun Rising cover and the original, for your listening pleasure. Enjoy!

"Uninvited" Red Sun Rising Video

"Uninvited" Alanis Morissette Video